Hiring a type rating, not a pilot
09-27-2014 | 10:59 AM
#11
Chief Jeppesen Updater
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Executive Transport Driver
I know it has been stated before in other threads, but the fact is that any company worth working for is far more interested in the person than the type rating.
That is not to say that a corporate department flying a significant amount internationally might not prefer a candidate who has that kind of experience. It is not only the knowledge of international procedures but the ability to work well with a crew over extended duration trips that are important.
In our department, the emphasis is on having the right team in place, not whether a candidate has a particular type rating or not. It is far more expensive to hire a replacement when someone's personality doesn't jive than it is to train the right person in an aircraft.
I am currently witnessing several examples of top-notch departments looking seriously at candidates who aren't qualified in the types they operate because they are more concerned about the individual than the cost of a type rating.
It comes down to networking and having the right connections and, more importantly, being someone I can spend 18 days with and still have a great working relationship on the last leg home.
That is not to say that a corporate department flying a significant amount internationally might not prefer a candidate who has that kind of experience. It is not only the knowledge of international procedures but the ability to work well with a crew over extended duration trips that are important.
In our department, the emphasis is on having the right team in place, not whether a candidate has a particular type rating or not. It is far more expensive to hire a replacement when someone's personality doesn't jive than it is to train the right person in an aircraft.
I am currently witnessing several examples of top-notch departments looking seriously at candidates who aren't qualified in the types they operate because they are more concerned about the individual than the cost of a type rating.
It comes down to networking and having the right connections and, more importantly, being someone I can spend 18 days with and still have a great working relationship on the last leg home.
Several of our most recent hires had previous time in the type of aircraft we operate, although none of them were current when we hired them. The company gave these pilots the option of going back to a recurrent or a full initial. All of them chose to recomplete initial.
In the whole scheme of things, the cost of a type rating is small bucks to a major flight department. While time in type is beneficial, overall experience and personality are much more important to the overall health and happiness in the flight department.
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